USA vs. Colombia Betting Preview and Pick
By: Al Hain-Cole
Goal.com
USA will be hoping to maintain their encouraging form when they take on Colombia in a high-profile friendly at Craven Cottage in Fulham, London on Friday (2:45 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Unbeaten in three exhibition matches since their impressive display at the World Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann’s men are available at +300 odds at William Hill U.S.
However, their opponents have established themselves as one of the top footballing nations in recent years and are -110 favorites at William Hill to secure a third consecutive victory.
The sides shared a 0-0 draw when they last came face-to-face four years ago, and you can get odds at the same sports book of +260 on them cancelling each other out once again here.
On the goal-spread, William Hill has Colombia -1/2 goal (-110), with USA +1/2 goal (-110). The total is 2.5 goals (UNDER -120).
Although insisting his team are intent on finishing the year on a high in their next two fixtures, Klinsmann admitted that he is using both friendlies as an opportunity to integrate some youngsters into the squad.
With talismanic captain Clint Dempsey excused from duty due to Seattle Sounders’ involvement in the MLS play-offs on Monday and midfield lynchpin Michael Bradley missing through injury, the Stars and Stripes are without perhaps their two most important players since Tim Howard’s decision to take a step back from international football.
Instead, the likes of Miguel Ibarra of second-tier Minnesota United and Stanford University's Jordan Morris will have the chance to rub shoulders with an opposition team brimming with star quality even without the injured Radamel Falcao.
Jose Pekerman’s outfit lit up the World Cup prior to their quarter-final exit against Brazil, with James Rodriguez earning himself the Golden Boot and a move to Real Madrid in the process.
That elimination and yet another 1-0 loss against their South American rivals in a post-World Cup friendly remain Los Cafeteros’ only defeats in the last 15 matches, with the seven games either side of those back-to-back clashes all resulting in victories.
Considering an understrength American team are unlikely to provide the same sort of test as Brazil this time out, the -110 odds look too good to pass up on Colombia coming out on top yet again here.
Goal.com best bet: Colombia to win at -110.